The T5 Q&a Thread

[creepdogg]

I have my canopy all set lights are about ready to be installed, lastly the cooling aspect of the isntall.

Question

I have gathered information that cooling the label end of the bulb on the end will be my best bet.

Do I want to be cooling both end cap sides or just the label ends?

I was going to run 3 fans two on the outside end caps blowing in and one out through the center blowing out. Or do I want to just run one in on the hot side and one out on the opposite end?

 

[GrimReefer82]

OK, you are "THE Grim Reefer" I am the cheap knock off lol. When I joined the site I didn't know you existed so sorry for the name hijack.

Anyways I have a few questions that maybe you could answer. I just purchased a 72" long 125g and it appears difficult to decide on lighting combinations. I want to run t5's or vho's and be able to keep anything. I have considered a (4 bulb 60" t5 retro), or (4 bulb 48" retro w/ 2 bulb 24" retro). I could also run 72" vho's or 8 36" t5's. Budget is also an issue, I am trying to stay under $400 for all lights but have enough light. What do you suggest? I want to keep clams and some sps along with softies and bubble tip anemone's.

 

[Baalz]

Will be ordering a Tek retro tomorrow.
This will be for a 75g soft coral tank
What would be suggested 4x54 bulb combo. I tend to like a more whiter appearance then purple. Right now with my VHOs its pinkish.

 

[68sting]

Who makes the best reflectors?

 

[Syris1377]

Hey everyone... Im going to be setting my 40b up and am looking at the ATI sunpower 4x39 and the TEK elite 6x39. My question is would the sunpower have good coverage front to back? Or would I want to look at the TEK elite for better coverage and bulb selection (color)? Im only going to be keeping a rose anemone, zoanthids, and maybe some sps here and there.

 

[rtparty]

Who makes the best reflectors?

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen00/site/?/home/

ATI (if you can find them here in the States)
Aqua Illuminations
Aquactinics
Ice Cap
Tek

 

[rtparty]

Will be ordering a Tek retro tomorrow.
This will be for a 75g soft coral tank
What would be suggested 4x54 bulb combo. I tend to like a more whiter appearance then purple. Right now with my VHOs its pinkish.

ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue Plus

That is the common four bulb combo. Might be a little blue for you but will make the colors really pop. Changing one of the Blue Plus' for an Aquablue might be what you want.

 

[Baalz]

Was looking over Grim Reefers web page.
I take it the 48" 4x54W Miro-4 T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit offers better reflectors over the 48" 4x54W Tek 2 T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit.

Is that correct?

 

[z3r0ko0l]

hey guys I'm looking to upgrade bulbs in a NEP 48" 6x54w. Any bulb combos I should look for to get the best look/PAR? Ive been running the stock bulbs for just over a year now so i know its time for a change. Ive heard that the stock bulbs aren't the best. Any combo Ideas? Thanks

 

[The Grim Reefer]

i currently own a 6 x39 watt ati sunpower fixture

currently i have

front

ati aquablue
ati blue+
uvl actinic white
ati blue+
ati blue+
ati aquablue

rear


my question is reefgeek still has the ati pro color in stock should i order them or fiji purple? my tank is 70 lps 15% sps 15% softies

I looking for more red and pink pop. If you have another bulb suggestion let me know

I would go with what you have, see what you think then maybe add a second Actinic White in place of an Aquablue but don't place it in the first or last position

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Grim,


Have you had the chance to test the aquaticlife T5 fixture? I seen a comment a few weeks ago stating you were going to locate one to borrow.

No, got bigger fish to fry right now.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I have my canopy all set lights are about ready to be installed, lastly the cooling aspect of the isntall.

Question

I have gathered information that cooling the label end of the bulb on the end will be my best bet.

Do I want to be cooling both end cap sides or just the label ends?

I was going to run 3 fans two on the outside end caps blowing in and one out through the center blowing out. Or do I want to just run one in on the hot side and one out on the opposite end?

The problem with blowing in from the end is the endcaps are so big I am not sure you would do much cooling of the lamps. I havent tried so I can say for sure. Try it with a flame next to the lamp and see if it is pulled by the draft, if it is then it would probably work fine.

Just cool the label end with the fan blowing air in on that side.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

OK, you are "THE Grim Reefer" I am the cheap knock off lol. When I joined the site I didn't know you existed so sorry for the name hijack.

Anyways I have a few questions that maybe you could answer. I just purchased a 72" long 125g and it appears difficult to decide on lighting combinations. I want to run t5's or vho's and be able to keep anything. I have considered a (4 bulb 60" t5 retro), or (4 bulb 48" retro w/ 2 bulb 24" retro). I could also run 72" vho's or 8 36" t5's. Budget is also an issue, I am trying to stay under $400 for all lights but have enough light. What do you suggest? I want to keep clams and some sps along with softies and bubble tip anemone's.

6 lamp 80 watt Retrofit with 2 Ice Cap 660 ballasts and AquaIlluminations reflectors, reefgeek sells a kit.

125 gallons, clams and 400.00 don't go together. You are either going to have to start with 3 T5's and softies or get a shorter tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Will be ordering a Tek retro tomorrow.
This will be for a 75g soft coral tank
What would be suggested 4x54 bulb combo. I tend to like a more whiter appearance then purple. Right now with my VHOs its pinkish.

Front
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue
GE 6500K Daylight
ATI Blue Plus

Should be about what you are after

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Hey everyone... Im going to be setting my 40b up and am looking at the ATI sunpower 4x39 and the TEK elite 6x39. My question is would the sunpower have good coverage front to back? Or would I want to look at the TEK elite for better coverage and bulb selection (color)? Im only going to be keeping a rose anemone, zoanthids, and maybe some sps here and there.

Do the Tek. You need coverage more than penetration.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Was looking over Grim Reefers web page.
I take it the 48" 4x54W Miro-4 T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit offers better reflectors over the 48" 4x54W Tek 2 T5 High-Output Retrofit Kit.

Is that correct?

Yep/

 

[The Grim Reefer]

hey guys I'm looking to upgrade bulbs in a NEP 48" 6x54w. Any bulb combos I should look for to get the best look/PAR? Ive been running the stock bulbs for just over a year now so i know its time for a change. Ive heard that the stock bulbs aren't the best. Any combo Ideas? Thanks

Front
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
Blue Plus
GE 6500K Daylight
Blue Plus
Blue Plus

 

[Syris1377]

Do the Tek. You need coverage more than penetration.

Thanks Grim! is there any other light fixture that you would recommend over the TEK Elite or just stick with the 6x39 Tek Elite?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Thanks Grim! is there any other light fixture that you would recommend over the TEK Elite or just stick with the 6x39 Tek Elite?

No. That should be fine

 

[kirtdog]

Grim,
I currently have 6 VHO- 2 super actinic run by an icecap 430 and 3-actinic white and one aquasun run by an icecap 660. I have 4 sets of t5 encaps and was going to replace the 4 bulbs run by the 660 with t5's. What reflectors would you recommend and any suggestion for bulbs. The tank is a 75g mixed reef. The SPS are doing fine under the VHO. I want to make sure I can still keep them with the 4 t5's. I am going to keep the VHO super actinics.

This is the current arrangement of bulbs. They are all 46.5" T12 VHO

---super actinic---
---actinic white---
---actinic white---
---aquasun ---
---actinic white---
---super actinic---

Also, let me know if you think I should just stick with the VHO's and maybe switch the types of bulbs. Thanks